LAKE KE OW E E
The Cliffs at Keowee Vineyards has a golf course with nine holes right on the lake. (Photo/Courtesy of Justin Winter)
Living AT
Lake Keowee A historic community full of natural beauty
W
here Lake Keowee’s clear blue waters sparkle, Cherokee traders once carried goods for exchange with British settlers. Nearby, soldiers guarded a palisade-bound fort built by the British to help protect the Cherokee from the French. At the bottom of the lake in northwestern South Carolina lies whatever is left of Keowee Town, the largest and most important of the Cherokee Lower Towns, and of Fort Prince George, named for the prince who later became King George III. “There’s so much history in the area,” said Justin Winter, a local real estate broker and resident of the area for 10 years. “We have petroglyphs from prehistoric peoples. We’re always finding arrowheads and shards of pottery.” The Lake Keowee area’s natural beauty and bountiful resources have made it an attractive home since long before it became a magnet for upscale development. Today on the lake’s north end there are three outstanding neighborhoods of The Cliffs Communities: The Cliffs at Keowee Vineyards, The Cliffs at Keowee Falls and The Cliffs at Keowee Springs. Another family-oriented communi-
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ty is The Reserve at Lake Keowee. All are private gated communities with golf courses and other amenities. With a membership in any one of The Cliffs communities, residents have access to all seven of the other Cliffs offerings, including those in the Asheville, N.C., area. Lake Keowee is a crystal clear lake fed by mountain springs. It is fed from Lake Jocassee, also known for its clean, clear water. In the foothills of the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains, the area is known for fly fishing (trout and bass), boating, sailing and water-skiing, hiking and golf. Keowee is a man-made lake constructed in 1971 by Duke Power Co. for hydroelectric power. It covers the site of Keowee Town, capital of the Lower Cherokee Nation, and the word is thought to mean “Place of the Mulberries.” Because the acreage was logged for timber before the lake was filled, there are few submerged log hazards for boating that are common in other lakes. The lake has 300 miles of shoreline and 18,500 surface acres of water. It is 23 miles long and two miles across at its widest point. It provides water to Greenville and Seneca. Lake Keowee is mostly in Oconee Coun-
ty but also extends into Pickens County. Nearby towns are Seneca at the south end of the lake and Pickens to the west. Clemson is close by and provides all the pleasures of a big university — sports, arts and academia. Greenville is an easy drive, with its restaurants, music concerts, art museum and extensive shopping. To the north of the lake are 30,000 acres of state parks, a boon to those who love the outdoors. Keowee-Toxaway Natural Area, Table Rock and Caesars Head state parks are just a few of the choices. Before Lake Keowee was built, major archaeological work was done. Artifacts from the Cherokee and British are on display in the Pickens County Museum of Art and History. A historic church, McKinney Chapel, inside The Cliffs at Keowee Vineyards, has been reactivated for services once a month and on special occasions. The church, founded in 1820, has a graveyard where a niece of Daniel Boone is buried. The chapel choir goes on tour and performs at a Christmas service in the barn at the Vineyards’ equestrian center. Residents of The Cliffs Communities come from all over, from the West Coast, Florida, England and other places. They come for the beautiful scenery and the favorable climate, with four distinct seasons but few extremes. Some are retirees, others have vacation homes here. Young families tend to choose The Reserve at Lake Keowee with its familyfriendly amenities. Active retirees play golf, bridge and tennis but also volunteer in local charities and schools. Here are some highlights of these Lake Keowee communities: The Cliffs at Keowee Vineyards: equestrian center with access to Jocassee Gorges; marina; wellness/tennis/therapy center; clubhouse; 18-hole Tom Fazio-designed golf course with nine holes directly on the lake. The Cliffs at Keowee Falls: Jack Nicklaus-designed course featuring a creek and ponds; clubhouse; shopping center; Falls Creek Waterfall Park; six tennis courts, a basketball court and walking trails. The Cliffs at Keowee Springs: Beach Club with family pool; Tom Fazio-designed golf course; the PGA Tour Academy. The Reserve at Lake Keowee: Village Town Center; guest house; Jack Nicklausdesigned golf course; family pool, lakeside pavilion and grill; market, parks and trails; Founders Hall and much more.